Cost of police could
rise by six per cent
by David Skentelbery
POLICING in Warrington is likely to cost the average householder an extra 12p a week in the coming year.
Cheshire Police Authority is due to meet on Tuesday, February 20 to agree its budget and while an increase of five or six per cent can be expected, the cost of policing is still likely to be among the lowest in the country.
Authority chairman Peter Nurse has been on a “meet the people” tour of the county, including Warrington, ahead of the decision on the ?180 million budget for the coming year.
At public meetings he has stressed how successful the force has been in fighting crime – and also its “bargain” cost to council tax payers.
At just ?2.08 a week at present for an average Band D property, Mr Nurse insists it is one of the lowest in England, set against a background of a 6 per cent fall in crime.
He said: “The police provide an absolutely vital public service and I believe that in Cheshire they are an absolute bargain.”
But he warned that because the force had not been able to raise enough revenue from the Government this year, it would face difficulties next year.
Three quarters of the cost of the 4,000 strong force, roughly 2,000 officers and 2,000 police staff, is met by central government with council tax raising the remaining 25 per cent.
Government funding will rise by 3.6 per, which Mr Nurse believes will ?keep the service together.”
But he believes there will have to be an increase of around five per cent if the service is to be maintained and improved. Anything less would means cuts in service.
Council tax payers with similar forces to Cheshire pay an average of ?134 for policing, compared with Cheshire?s ?108. This means the force has ?9.5m less funding available.
Mr Nurse said: “We realise increases in council tax are unpopular, but sometimes it is necessary if we are to maintain and improve policing services to the public.”
If the increase in the charge for police rises by six per cent – the maximum amount allowed this year ? an average band D property dweller will pay 12p more per week.
“We would remain one of the lowest locally funded forces in the country but would be able to maintain the current service whilst avoiding significant cuts,” Mr Nurse added.
Return of Mark’s
Lost Treasures!
by Gary Skentelbery
ADVENTURE archaeologist Mark Olly is looking for more “Lost Treasures” as he prepares to return to the TV screens in April.
Following on from the success of his first Granada TV series in 2005, a second series has now been commissioned.
It will once again see Warrington based Mark in his eye-catching black cape and hat, touring the region in search of “Lost Treasures” unearthed by anyone with an interest in regional history, mystery and archaeology.
Commenting on his new series Mark said: “It is longer, bigger and better than the first with lots of great new archaeological discoveries and even some surprisingly historic survivals like Giants, Dragons, Druids, Witches and Templar Knights!”
The eight new episodes will include areas in Grappenhall, Hale, Wirral, Buxton, Norton, Chester, Anglesey, Thelwall, Lymm, Holywell, Leek, Pendle and Liverpool and the team are continuing to look for “Lost Treasures” in all these areas.
“I think most of us have dreamt about finding treasures as it is part of our human spirit of adventure. But we want to emphasise that Lost Treasures don’t have to have any monetary value. We are looking for unexpected discoveries which forward our knowledge of certain locations and periods in history, anything from small metal detector finds and secret tunnels, to individual stories, entire landscapes and hidden villages.”
Multi-talented Mark is also a musician, artist, photographer and writer and holds a Certificate of Ministry and a Diploma of Biblical Studies.
He trained in field archaeology with Liverpool University in the 1970’s and 1980’s, working on local sites, and set up CWP Archaeology in 1999. Among sites he has been involved with are the Wilderspool Roman settlement in Warrington, Norton Priory in Runcorn, the Roman road at High Legh, and prehistoric Lespuge caves in Southern France, to name a few.
He also gives talks on archaeology and other topics, and acts as consultant to Element Books. His books include the ‘Celtic Warrington & Other Mysteries’ volumes, which have been based on six years of research.
Now he would love to hear from anyone who thinks they may have some “Lost Treasurers” and can be contacted via the website www.lost-treasures.co.uk
Big business
goes to college
by staff reporter
STUDENTS from Warrington?s Priestley College were given an insight into life in the world of big business as the yearly “Dynamics Days” took place on the college campus.
Over the space of 48 hours regular timetabled lessons were cancelled as the students took part in a range of events and activities organised and delivered by local firms in a fun yet challenging way.
The events were sponsored by British Nuclear Fuels who led workshops on design development, while O2, who offer many of the students part-time work at Preston Brook, delivered a programme based on management.
Elsewhere Ineos Chlor (production), Urenco (ICT and teamwork), Chance and Hunt (human resources) and CITB (design innovation) also offered programmes to the students, many of who have expressed a desire to pursue careers in business.
In total more than 100 students were included in the activities from pathways that included BTEC National, AS and intermediate. Overall the college now has 10 courses running at a range of levels within its Business, Law and Tourism curriculum area.
Business tutor Tracie Gibbons said: “Business Dynamics Days at Priestley continue to be extremely testing for those students who take part. Most of the activities involve finding practical solutions to range of problems encountered on a daily basis in most working environments.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to the business community of Warrington and the North West who supplied guest speakers and workshop leaders, which ensured we were able to offer a highly varied programme.”
Man beaten-up
in his own home
by David Skentelbery
A GANG of thugs forced their way into a house at Warrington and attacked a man inside.
The four men ? who all spoke with Liverpool accents ? burst into the house in Bexhill Avenue, Orford on Thursday evening.
They attacked the man inside using what appeared to be a crooklock, causing injuries to his head and body.
The they left in a silver, new-style Vauxhall Corsa.
Police are seeking information about the incident and anyone who can help is asked to call DC Stuart Clay on 0845 458 0000.
Tragic death of a
former Rose Queen
by John Hendon
A FORMER Lymm Rose Queen has died tragically, aged 34, after a long battle with illness.
Karel Louise Moston, formerly of Lymm but latterly of Portola Close, Grappenhall, Warrington, died peacefully at home.
The funeral service took place at St Wilfrid?s Church, Grappenhall, conducted by the Rev Margaret Jones and the Rev Malcolm Kelly. Interment was at All Saint?s Church, Thelwall.
Karel attended Statham Primary School and then Lymm High School and later became a Grade 1 officer at the Nat West Bank in Stockton Heath.
At eight, she took up horse riding and as her passion for the sport grew, her parents bought her a horse of her own. She went on to win a great many awards at competitions across the North West. School holidays were often spent at pony club camps with friends.
In 1986 she was elected Lymm Rose Queen.
An enthusiastic traveller, Karel visited many parts of the world, including Russia and America. She was also a keen artist and pro
duced some beautiful paintings.
Donations in memory of Karel were sent to the MS Society?s new respite centre, Griffiths Court, in Warrington.
Funeral arrangements were by John Burrows and Sons of Lymm.
Householder puts
out kitchen fire
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were called to a house in Parksway, Woolston near Warrington when fire broke out in the kitchen.
But the blaze, involving a pan of fat left on a cooker, had been extinguished by the occupier before they could reach the scene.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “Fortunately, we had carried out a fire awareness programme in the area recently and the occupier did the right thing – he smothered the fire with a wet tea towel.”
Firefighters used a ventilation unit to clear smoke from the property. No-one was hurt.
News in brief
Parish website
STOCKTON Heath Parish Council is to have its own website. It is currently being constructed by parish councillor Lynn Pester and will eventually be available at www.parish.cheshire.gov.uk/stocktonheathpc
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 3, 6 and 7. There was no winner and the ?381 jackpot prize will be “rolled over” to next week.
Restaurant plant
PLANS to convert a disused fireplace showroom in Buttermarket Street, Warrington into a two-storey restaurant have been submitted to the borough’s planning department. Consent to alter a listed building will also be required.
Flat over shop A TWO-bedroomed flat will be provided over the Spar Shop in Willis Street, Warrington if planners approve a change of use from the existing storage area.
